A historic moment: The part of the Marigalant
On a date marked on fire in the annals of history, on September 25, 1493, the Marigalant ship made its debut on a trip that would change the course of humanity. This boat, which became the leading ship of a group that included up to 34 ships, set sail from the port of Barcelona with the aim of founding the first European settlements in unknown America.
Key characters: the Catalans in the new adventure
Among the travelers who boarded the Marigalant were prominent figures of Catalan society. Antoni de Torres, a Valencian who would become the treasurer of the colony, Pere Margarit, in charge of maintaining public order, Bernat Boïl, the first Catholic bishop in the New World, and Miquel de Ballester, who would be the first European mayor in American lands, are some of the names that left their mark on this expedition.
The investment and mystery of the marigalant
The preparation of the Marigalant for this mission was a considerable investment, with a cost of approximately 166,000 salaries, which is currently estimated at about six million euros. This amount was assembled thanks to the support of merchants from Barcelona and Lleida, who saw in colonization an unprecedented economic opportunity.
The puzzle of the origin of the Marigalant
The origin of this emblematic ship has been debated for centuries. Recent investigations suggest that it could have been built in Cantabrian shipyards, and that when Columbus returned from his first trip, the Marigalant was in the area of the Gulf of León. Historian Jokin Bengoetxea claims that the sailors of Guipúzcoa and Lapurdi used the name ‘Mari Galant’ to refer to their ships, which could indicate that the Marigalant did not necessarily have to be in Barcelona.
The legacy of the marigalant
The journey of the Marigalant not only meant a moment of change for the American lands, but also laid the foundations of a new era of exploration and colonization. The experiences of the Catalans on board, as well as the challenges they faced, are a fundamental part of a story that continues to fascinate historians and interested in the history of explorations.
